Now that you have your braces, how do you take care of them? Properly caring for your braces throughout your entire orthodontic treatment at Rivera Orthodontics will keep your teeth healthy and make your treatment progress smoothly. We will be happy to see you for a visit to discuss braces maintenance in El Paso, Texas. Damaged appliances can increase the length of your treatment, so be sure to take care of all your appliances. Your teeth and jaw can only move into their correct positions if you consistently wear the headgear, retainer, rubber bands or other appliances prescribed by our orthodontist. If you have any questions or need to schedule an appointment with our orthodontist, Dr. Jaime Rivera, please contact us today.
Eating With Braces
Food can sometimes damage your braces, so you will need to take special care to avoid foods that could affect your new appliances. These foods include:
- Chewy foods — such as bagels, licorice, etc.
- Crunchy foods — popcorn, chips and ice, etc.
- Sticky foods — caramel candies, chewing gum, etc.
- Hard foods — nuts, hard candies, etc.
- Foods that require biting into — corn on the cob, apples, carrots, etc.
Foods that you can eat with braces include:
- Dairy — soft cheese, pudding, milk-based drinks, etc.
- Breads — soft tortillas, pancakes, muffins without nuts, etc.
- Grains — pasta, soft-cooked rice, etc.
- Meats/poultry — soft-cooked chicken, meatballs, lunch meats, etc.
- Seafood — tuna, salmon, crab cakes, etc.
- Vegetables — mashed potatoes, steam spinach, beans, etc.
- Fruits — applesauce, bananas, fruit juice, etc.
- Treats — ice cream without nuts, milkshakes, soft cake, Jell-O, etc.
Soreness Caused From Braces and Appliances
When you first get your braces, you may notice that your teeth and mouth feel tender. This is perfectly normal, and we promise your mouth will not be sore forever! To help relieve the pain, our orthodontist and team recommend dissolving one teaspoon of salt in eight ounces of lukewarm water. Swish and gargle this solution in your mouth for just a couple of minutes. Do not swallow the saltwater!
If your pain is more severe and does not go away after rinsing, you can also try taking a pain reliever. It is not uncommon for your lips, cheeks and tongue to become irritated for one to two weeks as they toughen and become accustomed to the braces. We are also happy to give you some wax that you can put over the braces to lessen the tenderness.
If you have any questions or concerns, we invite you to contact Rivera Orthodontics today. Your health and happiness matter to us, and we want to help you.
Loose Teeth
It is normal for your teeth to begin feeling a little loose, so do not worry if this happens. Your braces must first loosen your teeth to move them into the right position. Once your teeth have been repositioned, they will no longer be loose.
Loose Wires and Bands
The wires and bands on your braces may come loose. If this happens, please contact us as soon as possible so that we can schedule an appointment with Dr. Rivera to check and repair your appliance. If any piece of your appliance comes off, save it and bring it to the office with you.
You can temporarily fix the loose wire by using the back of a spoon or the eraser end of a pencil to carefully and gently push the wire back into place. If the loose wire is causing irritation to your lips or cheeks, put wax or a wet cotton ball over the broken wire to relieve the pain.
Playing Sports With Braces
We have great news for athletes! You can still play sports while undergoing orthodontic treatment! If you do play sports, our orthodontist will suggest that you wear a mouth guard to protect your teeth and your appliance. Dr. Rivera and our team here at Rivera Orthodontics are happy to help you find the right mouth guard to protect your mouth.
In case of a sports emergency, immediately check your mouth and appliance for damage. If you notice any loose teeth or appliance damage, please contact our office right away. Remember that you can temporarily relieve discomfort or pain by applying wax or rinsing your mouth in warm saltwater.